EFFECTIVE Pilots: Progress & Insights | Pilot 3
This pilot focuses on the restoration and long-term conservation of gorgonian coral communities around Tavolara Island in northern Sardinia, within the Tavolara–Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area and the Maddalena Archipelago National Park. The main objective is to enhance the resilience of key Mediterranean gorgonian species (Eunicella cavolini and Paramuricea clavata) in the face of climate change by combining active restoration actions with a robust early-warning and continuous monitoring programme for thermal stress events.
Significant progress has been made across restoration, monitoring, research, and community engagement activities. Field studies were conducted to identify priority areas with the highest recovery potential, followed by targeted restoration actions including cleaning, repopulation, and relocation of gorgonian colonies. These interventions are supported by ongoing studies on colony growth and survival, enabling the evaluation of restoration success over time. In parallel, a permanent monitoring network was established based on sentinel stations that continuously record environmental conditions and allow for the early detection of thermal stress events.
Several complementary scientific studies are being carried out alongside these actions. These include oxidative stress analyses in collaboration with the University of Cádiz, holobiont research led by CIC Barcelona, detailed mapping of coral distribution, studies on population growth bioindicators, and the integration of remote sensing data to better understand large-scale environmental dynamics. Outreach and communication activities have also been developed to share the project’s objectives and results with local communities, encouraging active participation and long-term stewardship of these vulnerable ecosystems.
Early results demonstrate a clear and positive response of gorgonian corals to the sanitation and recovery programme. Most treated colonies showed branch regrowth, improved colony structure, and a marked reduction in visible pathologies. Over the two years of the project, strong recruitment has been recorded across the study area, indicating active natural regeneration and a high recovery potential. These findings confirm that targeted restoration actions can effectively support coral recovery, even in systems already under climate stress. At the same time, the pilot has highlighted the limits of management interventions during extremely intense and rapidly developing thermal stress events, which can cause severe damage before mitigation measures can be fully implemented. Depth was also identified as a key factor influencing resilience, with deeper zones generally providing more stable thermal conditions. Close collaboration with local managers and stakeholders has been essential in reinforcing protection measures and supporting long-term conservation.
The pilot has faced significant challenges, most notably a mass mortality event in late September 2025. While investigations into the exact causes are ongoing, prolonged marine heatwaves and broader climate-driven changes in the Mediterranean are likely to have played a major role. This event underscored the vulnerability of gorgonian coral ecosystems and the speed at which conditions can deteriorate. In response, efforts are being intensified to reinforce early-warning systems, expand monitoring, and prioritise strategies that reduce damage and support faster recovery during extreme events.
In the coming months, the focus will be on completing ongoing studies and collaborations, while continuing to monitor restored sites and further refine early-warning systems. Restoration actions will be adapted based on the insights gained to date, alongside efforts to strengthen partnerships with scientific institutions and local stakeholders. The overarching goal is to enhance long-term resilience, improve preparedness for future climate extremes, and share lessons learned from Tavolara as a replicable model for adapting Mediterranean coral ecosystems to climate change.
